Pastors who launch new churches with the ARC (Association of Related Churches) face many challenges when it comes to getting their ministry off the ground. From organizing launch plans to finding an appropriate location to attracting members from the community, there are numerous items on an ARC church’s "to-do" list. 

And the work doesn't stop after new ARC churches are launched, either. Once a ministry is established, a whole new set of challenges arise as pastors and leaders look to expand their ministry to reach even more people with the message of Jesus.

Pastor Jeff Little of Milestone Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area shares some of his advice on expanding as an ARC church planter.

It's hard to expand if you don't have an early vision of what expansion looks like. After all, expansion takes a good deal of time and effort. If you don't at least have an idea of where you want your church to go with ARC, then getting there will be quite challenging.

Crafting a vision is what will guide all the little steps you take leading up to the actual expansion. Sure, that vision can change over time as things develop, but by having a clear end game in mind from the start, you can make more mindful decisions along the way.

Successful churches are those that build a solid community of members who give back and participate. This community must be vested in the mission and future of an ARC church.

At Milestone Church, members gave tithes well beyond what Little says he ever could have expected. While he was hoping to eventually raise $12 million to $14 million for the ministry's new building project, the community ended up contributing $21 million. 

That allowed Milestone Church to go from a cafetorium to a small, rented building with no parking spaces, then to a grocery store, and finally to landing its current residence: an auditorium seating nearly 3,500.

"Our staff is amazing. I have great friends, mentors, and big brothers," says Little. "But a great church is built with great people who get it. And we have a whole group of those people."

So, if you want your ARC church to expand, you must first build a community of great people who care.

Church expansion doesn't just refer to physical space. It also includes reaching more people with the message of Jesus.

For ARC churches to thrive in the long term, they must reach the younger generation. After all, it is young people who will grow up to be the eventual leaders of ministries. To truly reach this audience, ARC church leaders must prioritize them.

Little says it can be challenging for older pastors and leaders to connect with younger generations. However, there is one great way to do so: love what the kids love. For instance, ARC church planters can connect with youth in ways outside the church, such as volunteering as a sports coach.

Too many pastors focus on creating a bigger and better youth program. Little says the key to reaching them is expanding your heart for them.

ARC represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC's operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, ARC has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,000 new churches globally.